A Second World War Spitfire will soar above hospitals across the north of Scotland as part of a thank you message for all NHS staff and those still battling Covid-19.
The words “Thank U NHS” will be spotted in the skies as the blue reconnaissance aircraft, emblazoned with the names of thousands of key workers, flies past 64 local hospitals across the UK starting tomorrow until Friday.
It is the biggest flyover organised by the NHS Spitfire Project with the team at Aircraft Restoration Company carefully planning 98 route waypoints that include 25 in Scotland.
Built in 1944 and used as a photographic aeroplane, the PL983 aircraft is expected to fly over Aberdeen’s Woodend and Royal Infirmary hospitals around 10.50am on Thursday before making the journey west to Elgin’s Dr Gray’s by 11.08am and Raigmore Hospital in Inverness at 11.18am.
Aircraft enthusiasts will also get the opportunity to spot the plane at Inverness Airport as it makes pitspot for routine checks.
The plane had previously flown every Thursday during lockdown from its base at Duxford Airfield near Cambridge in support of NHS Charities Together and the carers campaign.
Since then nearly £80,000 has been raised with donations being made from those having their names handwritten onto the aircraft.
John Romain, founder and managing director of Aircraft Restoration Company said: “The response to our initial flight over the last 8pm #clapforourcarers Thursday was incredibly humbling, with hundreds of people from the local community sharing how wonderful it was to not only see the Spitfire, but also to read the message emblazoned across its wings.
“After such positive response we decided to leave the message painted on the Spitfire for the rest of the flying season, this is where the idea to hand write the names of the nation’s loved ones onto the aircraft to raise money for the NHS Charities Together began.”
Click here to donate to the NHS Spitfire Project.
Find out more about the Spitfire flight path on the Aircraft Restoration Company website.
